Murine Typhus
Recently, a Kerala man was diagnosed with the bacterial disease murine typhus.
- Also known as endemic typhus or flea-borne spotted fever.
- Caused by – Flea-borne bacteria
- Transmission to Humans – When infected flea feces come into contact with cuts or scrapes in skin.
- Not spread from one person to another
- Disease Distribution – Occurs worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical climates
Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize 2024 has been awarded to Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo
- Awarded to those who worked for “fraternity between nations, for abolition/reduction of standing armies and holding & promotion of peace congresses”.
- Nihon Hidankyo is a grassroots movement, comprised of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki—commonly referred to as Hibakusha.
- In 2017, the prize was awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) for its denuclearisation efforts including ground-breaking efforts for Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (adopted by UN in 2017).
Dragon Drones
A new type of drone called “dragon drone” has been used in the recent Russia-Ukraine war.
- Type of unmanned aerial vehicle
- Can release a substance called thermite which is a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide.
- When ignited, it produces a self-sustaining reaction that makes it almost impossible to extinguish.
- Thermite isn’t banned internationally, but using incendiary weapons in civilian areas is prohibited by the UN’s Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.
South Asian Development Update Report
The South Asian Development Update report released.
- Released by – World Bank
- Key Highlights –
- Output growth in South Asia to remain higher than all other emerging market and developing economy (EMDE) regions.
- Climate change is increasingly exposing South Asia to extreme heat, floods, and other weather shocks.
- Female Labor Force Participation remains low at 32%, highlighting potential for income increases through gender equity.
- Marriage reduces women’s labor force participation in South Asia.
Biopolymer
India’s first Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers inaugurated at Jejuri in Pune (Maharashtra).
- Materials that have been manufactured from biological sources like fats, vegetable oils, sugars, etc.
- Advantages – Decomposition is easily done by bacteria in soil environment.
- Carbon neutrality – CO2 released when biopolymers degrade can be reabsorbed by crops grown to replace them.